The objective of this investigation is to describe and compare the construct known as psychological well-being and its dimensions in women with breast cancer who had surgery in contrast to healthy women who share the same demographic characteristics. The sample consisted of 28 breast cancer patients, between the ages of 36 and 75 years old (M=56.11, SD= 11.93). The instrument used was the adaptation made by Diaz et al. (2006) of Ryff's Psychological Well- Being Scales (1988), which dimensions are: self-acceptance, autonomy, purpose in life, environmental mastery, personal growth and positive relations with others.
No significant differences were found between both groups at the level of the global scale of psychological well-being and its dimensions. In response to the specific objectives, we found positive correlation between age and the dimensions of autonomy and self-acceptance. Negative correlation was found between the variable "number of surgeries" and global psychological well-being, self-acceptance, purpose in life and autonomy. The variable "type of surgery" presented significant differences between the group of patients that had a tumorectomy only and the group that went under two surgeries (tumorectomy and mastectomy). The first group reported higher levels of global psychological well-being, autonomy and self-acceptance.